TEENAGER Blake Smyth made his Bendigo bowls playing area premier league debut on Saturday.
Smyth, who took up the sport last season and continues to play junior cricket with Bridgewater, was selected in Inglewood’s team for the clash at home against Eaglehawk.
The Woodies put in a reasonable performance to lose by 21 shots.
The good news for Inglewood was that changes were made with Craig Kelly putting in his second encouraging performance as a skipper.
And Smyth’s rink went down by just two shots.
Best performed rink was Daniel Garrett, David Whitehead, John Jackman and Rob Day with an 11 shot win.
The Division 6 team had quite a few players unavailable this week as they made the long trip to Heathcote. 
They are all to be congratulated for what they do to keep this team going and making the club proud every week. 
A big welcome to Jack Palfreyman who played his first game for the club.
 This team is at home on Saturday against Kangaroo Flat in a crucial game as there are only 10 points, half a game, separating the top six teams. 
Best rink was Simon Laird, Jack Palfreyman, Bev Taig and Helen Leach with a one-shot loss.
In Monday pennant last week, the Division 5 team bounced back with a wonderful 33-shot win over Golden Square at home. 
Another good performance this week, against Campbells Creek who are always difficult at home, will put them in a great position going into the Christmas break by having a firm hold on third spot. 
Best preformed rink last week were Daniel Garrett, Coral Leach, Patsy Lyndon and David Whitehead with a 17-shot win.
Just when the Division 1 team needed a good result, they turned it on against Woodbury to gain revenge for a loss to the them in the opening round of the season. 
Another good result is required this week, against the bottom side Bendigo East who are a better team than their position suggests. 
Best performed rink was John Jackman, Chris McEwan, Lindsay Kelly and Rob Day with a 15 shot win.
BRIDGEWATER
The Division 5 side played North Bendigo away once again in overcast conditions and heavy greens from overnight rain. 
All rinks took time to adjust to the greens and by the end of the day fell short by 12 shots overall. 
Bob Smith’s rink was our leading rink of the day with John Fagan’s rink sneaking home by two shots in a very close game.
Division 7 played at home against South Bendigo in a very even game and at the end of the day came away with a draw. Ian Clutton’s rink was the leading rink on the day
CHARITY ROUND
A regional charity round raising funds for cancer research will be played across all competitions in the Bendigo, Campaspe, Goldfields playing area when play resumes after the Christmas break, said regional president Vicki Tierney.
She said all premier league matches for the resumption round would be played at South Bendigo on January 22 with other divisions playing their pennant encounters the previous day.
She said special awards would be given to the best performing rinks across competitions in each of the three playing areas.
And the regional president said players would be encouraged to wear cancer-awareness colours for their matches,
“It’s a new initiative, an important one, that brings all playing areas in the region to the rinks for a common fundraising cause,” Tierney said.